, who had changed his splendid attire, and now waited on his patron in a very modest and plain undress, attended to do the honours of the Earl's COUCHER.
"How! Sir Richard," said Leicester, smiling, "your new rank scarce suits the humility of this attendance."
"I would disown that rank, my Lord," said Varney, "could I think it was to remove me to a distance from your lordship's person."
"Thou art a grateful fellow," said Leicester; "but I must not allow you to do what would abate you in the opinion of others."
While thus speaking, he still accepted without hesitation the offices about his person, which the new-made knight seemed to render as eagerly as if he had really felt, in discharging the task, that pleasure which his words expressed.
"I am not afraid of men's misconstruction," he said, in answer to Leicester's remark, "since there is not--(permit me to undo the collar)--a man within the Castle who does not expect very soon to see persons of a rank far superior to that which, by your goodness, I now hold, rendering the duties of the bedchamber to you, and accounting it an honour."
"It might, indeed, so have been"--said the Earl, with an involuntary sigh; and then presently added, "My gown, Varney; I will look out on the night. Is not the moon near to the full?"
"I think so, my lord, according to the calendar," answered Varney.
There was an abutting window, which opened on
